Chapter 48 - Small Decisions

Summary: In the Calamity timeline, a sequence of small decisions results in Astra meeting with her admirer Fallon.

As the sun rose over Hyrule Castle, Captain Hawkins of the Royal Guard began his customary daily routine of learning what had happened the prior evening.

"It was mostly quiet last night, Sir. We took two individuals into custody who were trying to sneak into the castle through the dock entrance. They were clearly drunk, and after viewing the Princess Coronation painting in Castle Town, they decided it would be fun to meet her for some partying. One said she was hotter than Death Mountain, while the other said she looked sweet and angelic. Thankfully neither one of them had weapons, and they put up no resistance. We've got them cooling their heels in the lockup until they're sober enough to let go," reported the guard.

"That's fine," Captain Hawkins replied. "See that they get breakfast before you release them. But also make sure to record their names and warn them that if they try something like this again, they'll face criminal charges."

Hawkins was not surprised the public display of the Princess's portrait could lead to some unwelcome behavior by besotted admirers. Her Highness looked radiant in the painting, with her bright blonde hair, clear blue eyes, and a blush on her cheeks that glowed like embers.

In person, she was even more captivating, of course. He had been privileged to be close enough to realize this when he had accompanied her to her room after her unguarded late return to the castle one evening. But there was definitely more to her than good looks. There was something special about her, an aura or presence if you will.

It wasn't obvious at first. A casual glance at the twinkle in her eyes and her sweet smile would make you think she was just a carefree teenage girl. But, if you got closer, as he had during his time with her, you could sense another side to her just below the surface. He recalled his meeting with her before she was recognized as the Princess.

He was checking castle security while on the late-night shift when she arrived alone in the library.

"Excuse me, Miss Astra, but where do you think you are going alone at this time of night? And are you returning from the docks?"

"Yes, and heading back to my room now, Captain."

"Has no one cautioned you about the danger of wandering around on your own late at night? Her Majesty has charged us with looking out for your safety, Miss Astra and your actions make that exceedingly difficult. I will need to report this to Her Majesty, of course. And how did you get past the guards on duty in the residential area of the castle? They will have something to answer for over this matter as well."

"Don't blame the guards, Captain," said Astra. "I used some ancient Sheikah technology to avoid detection. It was beyond their ability to prevent my departure."

"I won't pretend to understand what that means, but I will personally escort you back to your room now, Miss Astra," said the Captain. "And you should expect some stern words from Her Majesty after she receives my report."

"Yes, I expect I will hear some stern words from Her Majesty about this evening," said Astra as she shook her head and sounded remorseful. "Apologies for causing you or your soldiers any trouble."

He struggled to make sense of her as they walked side-by-side to her room, his eyes taking in every detail of her movements. Why wasn't she afraid of being out alone late at night? What was she hiding? As if she sensed his questioning gaze, Astra turned to him with a smile.

"Don't be anxious about me, Captain," she said. "I can take care of myself - and much better than you think."

His eyes were drawn to the sword hanging from her back, and he felt something powerful emanating from it, a menace you would not want to provoke. She undoubtedly could take care of herself. The Princess of Hyrule was indeed beautiful and desirable - but deadly dangerous, too.

"Very good, Sir. We will do just as you order."

The guard's words snapped his attention back to the moment.

"And some good news, Captain. Sergeant Lorton's wife had a baby boy last night. She and the baby are both doing fine. The squad is pooling money to buy him a present."

"That's wonderful news! I will contribute fifty Rupees for the cause."

"Very kind of you, Sir. Finally, this box of flowers was addressed to Her Highness. It arrived late last night, and the flowers are perfectly safe, nothing poisonous."

"Another crazy admirer?"

"I don't think so, Sir. According to the guard on duty, they were delivered by a Hylian army soldier."

"A Hylian army soldier? That's rather unusual! Did we get his name?"

"Yes, his name is Fallon," said the guard. "I checked and learned he has the 4 pm to midnight Castle Town patrol shift."

"I'll have a word with his commanding officer," said Hawkins.

"Excellent, Sir. But what do you want us to do with the flowers?"

"Hmm…they're beautiful and wasting them would be a shame. They could certainly brighten up the castle living quarters. Have them delivered to Her Majesty's Chief of Staff, Myra, and let her decide where they should go from there."

"Good idea, Sir. That concludes my report."

A short time later that morning, Sergeant Sadler approached Myra's desk bearing a bouquet and a note. He was always amazed to find Myra busy at work, whatever time of day duty called him there.

"Good morning, Miss Myra," said Sadler.

"Good morning, Sergeant Sadler. Oh, such lovely flowers! Are those for me? You shouldn't have!" Myra exclaimed before Sadler could continue, making him blush in the process.

"No, sorry, Maam, they're addressed to Her Highness," said Sadler, unsure if Myra was teasing. "Our Captain thought you would know what best to do with them."

"I"m just teasing you, Sergeant. I know very well they're not for me," said Myra with a smile. "Thank you, and just leave them with me. I will take care of them. Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you, Maam, but I had better get back to my squad," said Sadler, relieved to be on his way, as he was always nervous around the Royal Family offices.

And so it was later that morning, as Astra finished dressing and was about to leave to join her mother for breakfast, that she heard a gentle knock on her bedroom door.

"Be right there," said Astra as she glanced at herself in the mirror, then opened the door.

Myra stood waiting outside with a bouquet in a vase filled with water in one hand and an envelope in the other.

"I apologize for interrupting you, Your Highness. These flowers came for you late last night, and the Royal Guard dropped them off with me this morning, along with the attached note. I thought it best to put them in water for you."

"Thank you, Myra, that's very thoughtful of you. But I wonder who would be sending me congratulatory flowers so long after my coronation?" said Astra as she took the vase, inhaled deeply from the beautiful bouquet, then placed them onto her end table.

"I'm sure the accompanying note will explain, Your Highness," said Myra as she handed Astra the envelope. "But now I need to return to work. And Her Majesty is already taking breakfast in the family dining room."

"Thank you, I was just on my way there," said Astra as Myra withdrew, closing the door behind her.

Astra took a moment to admire the bouquet again before turning her attention to the envelope. In a looping script, it was addressed to the Princess of Hyrule. And upon opening it, she took out the note.

Your Royal Highness,

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of beholding the magnificent coronation portrait in Castle Town. To my surprise and delight, I finally recognized the enchanting person with whom I had the honor of sharing some delectable glazed mushrooms. That memory is one I shall forever cherish. And as captivating as the portrait may be, I must confess that it pales in comparison to your true radiance, Your Highness.

Please forgive me if my words seem forward or presumptuous. But I could not resist expressing my admiration and congratulations on your coronation. With each passing day, I will cling to the hope that your expressed desire to see me again was sincere and will someday come true.

In any case, you have my prayers that your reign will be long and happy.

Your ever-faithful subject,

Fallon

Astra couldn't help but smile as she read and re-read the note from Fallon, the charming soldier who had shared a mushroom snack with her at Castle Town. It was a sweet thing to do. And a bit daring, she supposed, as he might well be risking the anger of his superiors by sending flowers and a personal note to a Royal Family member. She needed to think about how to respond, but she should meet her mother now for breakfast. Eyes still on the lovely flowers, she put the note in her pocket, then left her bedroom and went down the castle hallway to the family dining area.

As she entered, Queen Zelda was already sitting at the head of the table, reading a report while sipping her morning tea.

"Good morning! It looks like a beautiful day today!" Astra said, her happy voice echoing lightly off the stone walls.

Zelda, looking up from her reading, smiled warmly at her daughter.

"Good morning, dear," she replied. "You seem especially cheery this morning. Is there a reason?"

Astra hesitated for a moment before deciding to share her secret. "I received something special today, Mother," she admitted, pulling the note from Fallon out of her pocket. "This note came along with a lovely bouquet."

Zelda looked surprised, her eyes focusing on the paper in her daughter's hands.

"Oh? May I?" she asked, and Astra nodded, handing her the letter, then sat down and helped herself to some eggs.

As Zelda read, her face gave away nothing, but when she finished, she looked up at Astra with a knowing smile.

"You seem to have made quite an impression on Fallon, which is no surprise," she said. "How do you feel about him?"

"He seems a kind and intelligent person, Mother, fun to be with, though we only briefly met once. But…."

Astra paused for a moment, then blushed as she continued.

"Well, this may seem strange to you, but … well … growing up, I have never had time for much social interaction or romance. I've attended parties like my sister's birthday party and even my own. But when I'm there, I usually dance with family members. My teenage life has been focused almost exclusively on training for combat. So I'm not sure how best to handle this. Perhaps I should attend the Gerudo 'Voe and You' class."

"I understand, dear, but I don't think you need a class," said Zelda. "I gather you are interested in seeing him again?"

"Yes, I would like to see him again and get to know him better," said Astra. "Do you see any problems with that?"

"No, not at all," said Zelda. "It's perfectly natural. Did you feel safe in his company?"

"I did," said Astra. "And I'm pretty good at taking care of myself if it comes to that."

"I do not doubt that!" laughed Zelda. "So, I suppose it would be silly to have guards chaperone the two of you. And it could be awkward for the two of you to be seen together this early in the relationship. Perhaps you two could go riding together, meet somewhere not too far away. You could even suggest a picnic where you two could talk. Does any of that sound promising?"

"Yes, that makes sense," said Astra as she nodded, understanding her mother's caution."But is there some way I can keep him from getting in trouble over this?"

"There is, but neither of us should do so," said Zelda. "It would only embarrass him, and he would lose face with his colleagues. I have made it a practice not to interfere with Hyrule Army procedures, and I'm sure his only punishment will be, at most, a warning or a mild reprimand."

"I suppose you're right, though I do feel bad for him," said Astra, shaking her head. "Now, the other problem is contacting him without drawing attention. If only everyone here had Tabs! Never mind, I have an idea."

Meanwhile, just outside the castle, Captain Hawkins was meeting Fallon's commanding officer, Captain Jonson, accompanied by the squad sergeant Willow.

"I trust you will deal with this serious matter, Captain Jonson," said Hawkins after explaining the situation about the bouquet.

"Of course, I will handle it the way it deserves. Please leave everything to me, Captain Hawkins."

They parted company, and as Jonson and Willow returned to the barracks, Sergeant Willow spoke up.

"What punishment do you think is appropriate for Fallon, Sir?"

"No punishment at all is warranted," said Jonson.

"Excuse me, Sir?"

"These Royal Guard types are too picky, always trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. A lot of people sent the Princess flowers for her coronation. So what if Fallon sent his much later? Besides, you should think ahead."

"Think ahead, Sir?"

"What if Her Highness is charmed by this Fallon character? Do you really want to get on the bad side of the Princess and possibly the next Prince of Hyrule?"

"Oh, I see what you mean, Sir," said Willow as he chuckled at Jonson's words.

It was early afternoon, and Astra was checking herself in her bedroom mirror, as she needed to wear something to hide her features so it would not be obvious who she was. And while the outfit she bought in Gerudo Town included a mask, the rest of it was far too revealing. Instead, she settled on the stealth Sheikah outfit Purah had given her when she was pretending to be Purah's assistant.

"How do I look, Fi?" Astra muttered.

"I know what that means now, Mistress, that you are referring to your appearance," said Fi proudly. "You look like a stealth Sheikah of course. Are you preparing for a secret mission?"

"Well, in a way," laughed Astra. "Though I hope not a sinister one. And I don't think I will need to bring you along, Fi, as I'm only going to Castle Town today."

When she was satisfied with her appearance, Astra stepped out of the castle's entrance and walked to Castle Town. A pleasant warmth was in the air on this sunny day, with people bustling around the various stalls and kiosks, shopping, eating, and drinking. She figured Fallon would be taking a late lunch around two o'clock or so, in time for him to finish before he needed to report for duty before his 4 pm shift. So, she decided to take a stroll around the area until then. Her disguise was evidently good, as nobody paid her any attention. Or rather, nobody paid her more attention than anyone else, as merchants continually called out to passersby to examine their merchandise.

After Astra wandered from stall to stall, she finally came across Fallon sitting alone at the town center's fountain.

"Let's see if he recognizes me," Astra said to herself with a smile hidden behind her veil as she approached. When she was nearby, she spoke up, her voice muffled by the Sheikah veil.

"Excuse me, are you eating alone?"

"Huh?" said Fallon as he looked up in surprise. "Oh, um, yes, I am, Miss."

"You're not waiting for anyone, perhaps?"

He shook his head lightly and smiled sadly. "Well, I am in a way….but maybe only in my dreams."

"Can I sit with you then? I've been doing a good deal of walking and could use a rest."

"Oh, sure, of course, Miss," said Fallon as he made room for her to sit beside him. "Would you like some of my Hearty Meat and Mushroom Skewer? It's more than I should eat, but it tastes delicious."

"I'll take a bite if you don't mind," said Astra, reaching for a morsel that Fallon held out, then eating it.

"Mm, it is tasty, thank you," said Astra after swallowing. "But not as tasty as the Honey Glazed Mushrooms we shared last time."

The moment the words left her lips, Fallon jerked in surprise, stood up, and stared at her wide-eyed, nearly spilling his food from shock.

"It's you!? Your High….".

"Shh! Don't say any more, or you'll give me away," Astra said, tugging at his sleeve to urge him to sit down. "And do try not to kneel either."

"I… I don't know what to say…." Fallon said, taking his seat again and still trying to catch his breath.

"Thank you for the beautiful flowers," Astra said. "They really brighten up my bedroom."

"Oh, I'm glad you got them and like them …," Fallon replied. "Um, if I can't use your title…what may I call you instead?"

"You can call me Astra," said Astra. "I know it's confusing, as my real name is Zelda. But it's a nickname I'm quite fond of."

"Okay…Astra," Fallon said.

"Do you have any days off coming up?"

"Yes, this weekend in two days," he replied.

"Perfect! Would you like to go riding with me then? We could meet at the Sacred Grounds at noon, go somewhere peaceful, and have a picnic together. I'll bring the picnic basket, and you bring your appetite," Astra suggested.

Fallon felt himself nodding in agreement despite being still breathless from her nearness. He could barely find his voice to reply, "Yes, that would be wonderful, great." He swallowed hard before adding, "I can't wait, Your …," he quickly corrected himself with a flush on his cheeks. "I mean Astra … See you then."

Astra stood to leave as Fallon stood too, then held aloft a warning finger: "Remember, our date must stay between us - tell no one! That way, I won't have to disguise myself with a veil. Now I must go back while you prepare for your evening shift."

She winked and smiled before turning away again. As they waved each other goodbye, Fallon mumbled under his breath: "Who knew dreams can sometimes come true … It's going to be hard concentrating on work now!"